Samuel Finley Breese Morse is, not shockingly, most widely known for his work with the telegraph. For most of his life, however, he was a painter. Morse did not invent the telegraph. It had been around since before he was born. He did, however, make a number of improvements to the telegraph, and was instrumental in its promotion, and was largely responsible for its widespread use throughout the United States. He was born to a rich family in Charlestown, Massachusetts, April 27, 1791. His father was a clergyman, and a geographer. He attended Yale University, where he developed a passion for painting.